Dartford

Dartford's population increased by about 11,500 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed 97,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Dartford increased by 13.3%, from about 85,900 to 97,400.

The addition of just over 11,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Dartford was home to, on average, 9.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Dartford

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Dartford increased by one year, from 36 to 37 years.

This area had a lower average age than the South East and remained slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 3,800 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 600.

About 15.0% of people in Dartford are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Dartford by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Dartford

In 2011, 3.7% of Dartford residents said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from from 0.9% in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.7% to 1.5%, while across England the percentage went from 2.4% to 3.6%.

Around 87.4% of people in Dartford said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 94.5% in 2001. About 6.0% said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 3.2% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from 1.2% to 2.2%.

the population from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups in Dartford increased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Dartford by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Dartford

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Dartford was among those who said they had no religion, rising 12.2 points.

In 2011, 27.2% of respondents in Dartford gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 15.1% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 16.6% to 27.9%, while across England the percentage went from 14.5% to 24.6%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Dartford, 60.6% said they were Christian, compared with 73.3% in 2001. About 1.6% said they were Sikh, compared with 1.1% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion decreased from 8.6% to 6.6%.

In Dartford, 6.6% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 8.6% in 2001. In South East, 7.4% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

the population without a religion in Dartford increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South East and Dartford by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Dartford

The percentage of Dartford residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.5% to 6.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 2.6%, while the percentage of Dartford residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90.5%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Dartford at a faster rate than in Havering (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Dartford).

In Dartford, the proportion of private renting increased from 8.0% in 2001 to 15.9% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Havering increased from 5.5% to 10.6%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10.2% to 16.5%.

The rate of social housing in Dartford fell from 16.2% to 14.8%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 73.8% to 66.9%.

Private renting in Dartford increased by 7.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Dartford, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Dartford

The percentage of single people in Dartford increased from 29.4% to 34.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under one in two (47.3%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 52.3% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Dartford that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 10.8% to 11.7%.

The proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 28.5% in 2001 to 32.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 30.5% to 34.9%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Dartford working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 13.7% to 10.5% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 40 (2.3%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14.3% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Dartford decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Dartford, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Dartford residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.4% to 4.4% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83.4%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 70.4% in 2001. The percentage of Dartford residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22.3% to 12.2%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Dartford decreased by 2.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Dartford, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Dartford, which comprised a single parent, increased from 9.0% to 11.4% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in three (34.4%) households had a married couple, compared with 38.9% in 2001. The percentage of households in Dartford, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 10.9% to 11.7%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.0% in 2001 to 9.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 10.7%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent in Dartford increased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Dartford, the South East and England that had a single parent, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Dartford residents that were unemployed increased from 2.5% to 4.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 58.4%, while the percentage of Dartford residents that were self-employed increased from 7.8% to 9.8%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Dartford increased by 1.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Dartford, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with children

The percentage of households with children increased in Dartford, while falling in Medway (one of the most statistically similar areas to Dartford based on ONS area classifications).

In Dartford, the proportion went up from 31.1% in 2001 to 32.4% in 2011, while across England it fell from 33.8% to 32.3%. During the same period, the regional proportion remained close to 29.2%.

The proportion of households without children in Dartford fell from 59.0% to 57.4%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.9% to 10.2%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Dartford residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.7% to 2.2% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.9%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 1.7% in 2001 to 2.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Dartford remained close to 2.2%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Dartford by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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